BulldoggyStyle

My girl's 98 Frontier is overheating. Battery light is on and so is the brake light. She claims both came on at the same time today when it began to overheat. I checked fluids, the levels are fine. Drove it home and the engine temp went full tilt HOT within half a mile. Also the engine was real jumpy unless I was running super low RPMs (20 miles an hour is 4th gear). Any ideas from the Nissan Jedi Masters out there? Are we talkin thermostat? Sensor maybe? Any help is greatly appreciated. You can even mail me direct at davekelman@yahoo.com

Thank you!!!

jerryp58

Water pump failure? That might cause an RPM problem that would make the battery light and, if a low enough vacuum situation, the brake light come on too. Mabye?

I'd check everything obvious like belts and hoses (make sure they're not collapsing when the engine is running).

With the engine & radiator cool, you could pull the cap, start it up, and when it reaches operating temp you should see water start to flow in the radiator. -- Put the cap back on before you turn the engine off. AND BE CAREFUL! -- If not, you likely have a bad thermostat or waterpump.

__________________

Jerry
2004 Frontier, King Cab, XE, 4x1, 4-cyl, 5-spd

abmobil

Most of the time on nissans when the batt and brake light come on at the same time it means that the altenator is not putting out power but it is weird that its also overheating at the same time.

96R50

I’ve never looked under the hood of a Frontier, but I know on my truck that the alternator belt also drives the water pump. This would explain all of your symptoms as well as be very easy to repair. That is unless the water pump or alternator seized and threw off the belt.

BulldoggyStyle

Thanks Jerry. Found out that my girl;s alt/fan belt broke. Not having fun putting it on, but ah well. Thanks again.